Volume 5, Issue 12
July 30, 2007

Welcome children to your classroom with our rhyming verse.

School is cool
We’re glad we’re here!
It’s time to start
A cool school year.

We’ll follow rules
And have some fun.
Welcome, welcome
E-v-e-r-y-o-n-e!

Susan LaBella
Editor, Early Childhood Education Newsletter

ALPHABET HUNT
Gather children and read ABC Discovery, by Izhar Cohen. The book’s treatment of the alphabet can be used as a springboard for an Alphabet Hunt. As you reinforce each letter of the alphabet, send children on a hunt around the classroom. Invite children to find objects that begin with the same sound as the “letter of the week.”

ALL ABOUT ME
Bring to Circle Time a backpack filled with some things that show who you are. Be sure they are items children can handle. For example you might include a paint brush if you enjoy art or a wooden spoon if you like to cook. Sit in the center of the circle and use each item to introduce yourself to the children. Then go around the circle asking each child to say one thing about himself or herself. This is a great way for everyone to get to know one another!

MY FAMILY
Before the start of school, send notes to parents asking them to send in with their child duplicate pictures of family members. Use the pictures to create a small family wreath for each child. On those days when a child is feeling lonely or misses home, bring out the wreath to offer the comfort only a family can give.

TAKE A SCHOOL TOUR
First read to children The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn (Tanglewood Press). The story is about a little raccoon who is scared to go to school. His mom kisses his hand and tells him to put it to his cheek if he feels lonely during the day. For your reading, bring in a little stuffed raccoon, a stamp pad, and a stamp with lips or a kiss mark on it. At the end of the story, stamp each child’s hand with a “kiss.” When the children are out of the room have another teacher take the raccoon while you visit other adults such as the principal, secretary, custodian, librarian -- to stamp their hands with a “kiss.” When your students return to your room, tell them the raccoon is lost. Line the children up and go looking around the school for it. Talk about each place you go and stop each adult to see if he or she has seen the little raccoon. Each adult should say, “Yes, I just saw him. He gave me a kiss on the hand (shows hand). I think he went towards…” (point to next stop.) While you are touring the school, the raccoon is returned to your classroom. Bring children back from their tour. They will be relieved to see the little raccoon and will remember their special tour and the people they met.

“DEMS DA RULES”
As you talk about class rules and expected behaviors, ask a different child to model each. Take a picture of each child. Next, write each rule on a strip of paper. Hang the rules and pictures on a wall or bulletin board labeled “Welcome to Our Picture-Perfect Class.”

Check out the following Web sites for additional background and activities.

All About Me and School Books and Activities
You’ll find some fun back-to-school activities here.
http://hometown.aol.com/il2teach/meandschool.htm

First Day Checklist
Here are some helpful lists to get you started.
http://www.kinderthemes.com/backtoschool.html

Child Fun: Back to School Activities
Back to School books, ideas, and links right here.
http://www.childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=166t

Songs
Choose a song or chant to start the year off.
http://www.kinderthemes.com/Songsideasandchecklists.html

Cool Cooking
Make school bus cakes -- how cool! You’ll find out how right here. Just scroll down.
http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/back-to-school.htm